Amusement device



-Dec.13,1960 v D. E. MANN, JR

AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1958 W. N. QN

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Dec. 13, 1960 D. E. MANN, JR AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4, 1958 M, a M E M v 0 0 m T O m m United StatesPatent AMUSEMENT DEVICE David E, Marin, Jr.., 3223 N. Broad St., Cheltenham, Pa. Filed Dec. 4 ,1958, Ser.No. 173,204

Claims. 01. 273-101 The present invention generally relates to an amusement device and more particularly to such a device incorporating the concept of a satellite orbiting about the moon or similar planet.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide anamuser'nent device operated by air pressure provided by the mouth of a person using the same in which there is incorporated a rotatable element having a series of arms thereon which simulates and represents a moon together with a projectile having a hook thereon which represents a satellite with the object being to hook the satellite onto one of the arms of the moon after which the satellite may orbit or rotate about the moon.

- A further object of the present invention is to provide an amusement device which is simple in construction, highly entertaining, highly desirable in that it cultivates the imagination of the person using the same and is generally inexpensive to manufacture.

' These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the amusement device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is'a side elevation of'the construction of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 1 illustrating the structure of the device and illustrating the manner in which the satellite is launched;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating the orientation of the structure after the satellite has been hooked onto the rotatable arm with the arms then being driven by air pressure;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 5-5 of Figure 3 illustrating the clutch element for locking the moon from rotation while the satellite is being launched;

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 66 of Figure 5 illustrating further structural details of the air deflector and the movable valve which also declutches the satellite; and

Figure 7 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 7-7 of Figure 3 illustrating further structural details of the valve.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the amusement device of the present invention which includes a generally elongated cylindrical body 14 having a tapered mouthpiece 16 at one end thereof and having a longitudinal passage 18 extending therethrough. The end of the body 14 remote from the mouthpiece 16 is provided with a hollow interior 20 having a continuation of the passageway 18 which is designated by the numeral 22 and which exhausts to the atmosphere. At the inner end of the hollow area 20, there is provided a laterally movable slide valve 24 having a passageway 26 therethrough which is alignable with the passageway 18. The transversely movable valve 24 is movable from a position illustrated in Figure 3 in which the passageway or aperture 26 is misaligned with the passageway-18 thus closing'the inner end of the passageway 18 to a position illustrated in Figure 4 in which the passageway 26 is aligned with the passageway 18 thus permitting air pressure to pass into the hollow chamber or area 20.

Adjacent to the valve 24 but spaced towards the mouthpiece 16 is an upstanding projection 28 having a passageway 30 therein communicating with the passageway 18 and generally extending perpendicular thereto. Mounted on the projection 28 is a spherical member 32 having a plurality of radially extending pins or pegs 34 connected thereto with one of said pegs or pins being hook shaped as indicated by the numeral 36 and also one of the legs 34 depending into the passageway 30 wherein the passageway 30 will act as a-guide;for the spherical member 32 when air pressure blows the spherical member 32 upwardly, for purposes of hooking the hook 36 onto an overhead support. The spherical member 32 is preferably of lightweight material such as cork or expanded plastic while the members 34 and 36 are preferably of lightweight wire.

Extending upwardly from and rigid with the body 14 and in generally overlying relation to the hollow area 20 is an elongated standard 38 having a vertical bore 40 extending therethrough rotatably receiving an elongated shaft 42. The shaft 42 is provided with a spherical member 44 on the upper end thereof with the spherical member 44 having four radially extending wire arms 46 thereon with each of the arms 46 having a loop 48 depending from the outer end thereof whereby the loop 48 will be engaged by the book 36 for supporting the spherical member 32 on the end of one of the arms 46 whereby the spherical member 32 will simulate satellite and the spherical member 44 will simulate a moon or other planet. At the juncture between the upstanding member 38 and the spherical member 44, the shaft 42 is provided with four radially extending arms 50 which are received in crossed slots or grooved 52 in the top end of the upstanding member 38 whereby the shaft 42 will be locked from rotation as will be the spherical member 44 when the shaft 42 is in a lowermost position such that the radial blades 50 are engaged in the grooves 52.

For elevating the shaft 42, the shaft 42 is provided with a transverse pin 54 projecting diametrically therefrom and the valve member 24 is provided with a pair of elongated rods 56 rigidly secured thereto with the rods 56 terminating in eye members 58 encircling the shaft 42 with one of the eye members 58 engaged under the transverse pin 54 so that when the valve member 24 is moved to the position illustrated in Figure 4, the shaft 42 will be elevated thus disengaging the clutch defined by the blade 50 and grooves 52 whereby the moon 44 and the shaft 42 may rotate. Intermediate the eye members 58, the shaft 42 is provided with a fan blade assembly which includes a hub 60 and a plurality of radially extending fan blades 62 which are generally provided with the major width thereof parallel to the axis of the shaft 42 so that when air engaging one surface of the blade 62, the blade and the shaft 42 will be caused to rotate in an obvious manner.

The rods 56 are interconnected by a vertical rod 64 intermediate the ends thereof and intermediate the valve 24 and the fan blade 62. Mounted on this vertical rod 64 is an angulated or inclined deflector blade 66 which directs the air from the aperture 26 towards one side of the fan assembly for engagement with the fan blades for causing the fan blades --and the shaft 42 to rotate.

The orientation of the blades 50 on the shaft 42 is such that a loop or ring will be disposed immediately above the projection 28 which simulates a launching pad so that the hook may be engaged with the ring or loop. The entire device is preferably made of plastic or similar inexpensive materials and in operation, the moon satellite 32 with its wire hook is put into orbit around the moon by first pressing the valve or launching key 24 down and upon discharge of air into the passageway 18, the spherical member 32 will be launched upwardly with the idea being to hook the satellite onto the ring 48. Once the satellite is hooked, it can be made to orbit around the moon by pressing the launching key up or pushing it up from the bottom which opens the air passage then air rushes through the opening in the launching key, over the deflector 66 and against the fan blades 62. Movement of the valve or launching key 24 also releases the blades 60 so that the shaft 42 may rotate.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An amusement device comprising a generally elongated body member having a longitudinal passageway therein and a mouthpiece at one end for receiving air pressure from the mouth, an upstanding member adjacent the other end of said elongated member, a spherical member having radial arms rotatably supported at the upper end of said upstanding member, an upwardly projectible spherical member mounted on said body in spaced relation to the spherical member on the upstanding member for projection in response to air pressure in said passageway for engagement with one of the arms, means for rotating said arms in response to air pressure in said passageway, and means for controlling rotation of said arms and projection of said projectible spherical member carried by the body.

2. An amusement device comprising a hollow horizontally disposed body having a mouthpiece at one end journaled in said upstanding member, a plurality of radially extending arms carried by the upper .end of said shaft, radially extending fanablades carried by the lower end of said shaft within saidbody for rotating the shaft in response to air pressure in said body, a deflector within said body for guiding air discharged into the body onto the fan blades for rotating said shaft, and a valve in said body for controlling the flow of air to said deflector and fan blades, said body being provided with an upstanding projection between the mouthpiece and the valve, said projection havinga vertical passageway therein communicating with the interior of the body for receiving air when the valve is closed, a spherical upwardly projectible satellite simulating member mounted on the upper end of the projection, a hook-shaped member carried by said satellite simulating member for engagement with one of said arms, said satellite simulating member including a depending pin slidable in the vermember at the other end of said body, a rotary shaft tical passage for guiding the movement of the satellite simulating member, said satellite simulating member being constructed of lightweight material whereby air pressure will project the same upwardly for hooking engagement with one of said arms when the valve is closed.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said arms is provided with a vertical ring for receiving the hook on the satellite simulating member.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said shaft is vertically movable in said upstanding member, a clutch mechanism for locking said shaft in non-rotative relation with one of the arms overlying the upstanding projection, said clutch means being engageable and disengageable in response to vertical movement of the shaft, and means interconnecting the valve and the shaft for raising the shaft when the valve is moved to an open position to admit air to the fan for rotating the shaft.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said means interconnecting the valve and shaft includes a pair of arms rigid with the valve and rotatably and non-slidably connected with the shaft, said arms also supporting the deflector for deflecting air onto the blades.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 666,417 Gillet Ian. 22, 1901 1,258,151 Schroer Mar. 5, 1918 1,278,674 Joos Sept. 10, 1918 1,295,118 Canaday Feb. 25, 1919 2,425,212 Strumor Aug. 5, 1947 2,702,964 Stone Mar. 1, 1955 

